Safety mechanism for firearms



J. F. FESCHER SAFETY MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Get. 21, 195

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1957 v IONVENTOR.

Joseph F. Fischer Oct. 21, 1958 I J. F. FISCHER 2,856,718

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed June 24,-1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Joseph F. Fischer SAFETY MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Joseph F. Fischer, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application June 24, 1957, Serial No. 667,405

14 Claims. (Cl.'42-70) This invention relates to improvements in safety mechanism for firearms. The principal objects of this invention are:

First,to provide a simple and inexpensive attachment for firearms having only a trigger blocking safety that will positively lock the sear against hammer release when the trigger block safety is on.

Second, to provide a safety bar engageable between a hammer releasing member of a firearm and a selectively movable control member to prevent accidental release of the hammer.

Third, to provide a safetyvblock for the hammer release member of a firearm that is sufiiciently yieldable to accommodate cocking action of the release member under the strong camming action of the hammer but which is stiff enough resist inertia forces and shocks tendingto move the hammer release member to released position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings of which there are two sheets illustrate a preferred form of theinvention incorporated in a popular type of firearm.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a firearm with portions broken away to illustrate the safety of the invention applied to the trigger mechanism. The action is shown in fired position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the safety and trigger mechanism shown in cocked and locked or safe position. Portions of the supporting trigger plate and housing are .shown in cross-section along the plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the safety attachment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the hammer and trigger assembly in cocked and safe locked position,

a portion of the hammer being broken away in section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the safety control member taken along the plane of the line 55 in Fig. 2 and showing the mechanism in unlocked firing position.

.In the drawings 1 represents the stock and 2 the receiver of a firearm. A trigger plate 3 supports the hammer and trigger assembly and includes a guard 4 for the trigger 5. The hammer 6 is pivoted at 7 and spring biased by the hammer spring 8 and follower 9 to strike the firing pin 10. On its outer end the hammer 6 has a scar notch 11 engageable with the jaw 12 of a sear 13. The sear 13 is pivoted at 14 and biased by the sear spring 15 toward engaged, hammer holding position in the cocked condition of the action. The trigger 5 is pivoted at 16 and has the connector 17 pivotally connected thereto at 18'.

The connector 17 projects forwardly to act on the sear 13 below the sear pivot to move the sear jaw rearwardly to release the hammer and fire the piece. The sear spring 15 also acts against the trigger to bias the trigger to normal, unfired position.

Rearwardly of the trigger 5 the housing formed by the trigger plate is recessed as at 19 to receive the rear edge nite States atent of the trigger. The housing is also transversely bored as Y of the pin.

to rest in the groove 22 where. it would interfere withat 20 to slidably receive the safety button 21. The button 21 is actually a blocking pin having annular grooves 22 in its mid-section (see Figs. 4 and 5) separated by a locating rib 23. The grooves form a shoulder on each end The grooves and rib coact with a spring pressed pin 24 received in the bore 25 to locate the button. Fig. 4 shows the button 21 in safety on. position where the back of the trigger strikes one of the shoulders and Fig. 5 illustrates the button in safety off position.

The top and rear side of the trigger 5 are bifurcated leaving upper arms 26 (see Fig. 4) between which the connector 17 is pivoted and stop ears 27 opposed to the safety button or blocking pin 21. One of the ears 27 is engageable with the safety button when the button is in safety on position as shown in Fig. 4. This blocks the trigger and prevents firing of the piece by pulling the trigger.

The foregoing structure will be recognizedas the hammer and trigger assembly used on shot guns and rifles sold under the trademark Remington. 1

While the blocking pin 21 prevents unintentional pulling of the trigger 5, it does not positively prevent accidental discharge of the firearm. As soon as the piece is cocked it may be discharged by rough handling or dropping or even by rapid actuation of the cocking mechanism (either pump action, lever action or automatic action not illustrated) before the chamber of the piece is fully closed and locked. The sear 13 is only held in cocked position by the relatively light sear spring 15. Sufiicient shock or inertia force imparted in the correct direction to the mass of the sear will move the sear and discharge the piece. This condition is aggravated when the sear notch 11 and coacting jaw 12 become worn or are filed to provide hair trigger action.

The safety attachment of the invention consists of a thin strip or bar 28 of spring steel that is substantially stiff longitudinally but laterally springable when subjected to sufiicient longitudinal loads. The bar 28 fits alongside of the trigger 5 and sear spring 15 and projects rearwardly in the slot 19 in opposed relation to the blocking pin 21. At its forward end the bar 28 has a laterally turned end 29 constituting an abutment that fits in a notch formed in the rear of the sear. A short retaining tab or tip 30 on the end portion 29 laps against the opposite side of the sear. The sear spring 15 thus prevents lateral displacement of the bar in one direction and the tip 30 prevents lateral displacement in the other. The forward end of the sear spring on its underside bears against the laterally turned abutment 29 and constantly biases the safety bar When the action is in cocked position with the blocking pin 21 on as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the rigidity of the safety bar 28 prevents any inertia forces that may be set.

up in the sear, by dropping or bumping the piece, from moving the sear to hammer releasing position and the piece is totallysafe. When the blocking pin is moved to ofi or firing position as in Fig. 5, the safety bar 28 may move rearwardly into the groove 22 as the top of the sear is retracted in normal firing operation. As previously noted the sear spring 15 holds the safety bar forwardly with the sear and prevents the safety bar from coming Patented Oct. 21, 1958 -movement of the safety button or 7 tion i i i i i pin 21 to on posi- Should the blocking pin 21 be moved to on" position, i

i as in Fig. 4 whilevthe action is in uncooked positioncand the action should thereafter be cocked, the outer end of,

the hammer will be retracted in a strong camming action on'the topof the sear as in normal cocking operation. Thesafety bar 28 resists rearward movement of ,thcsear as before but since cocking is effected by strongforces :at

- multiplied mechanical advantage and with the strong cam- ,ming action on the searrnuch stronger compressive forces are applied longitudinally on the safety bar than can be applied thereto by any inertia or shock force and the safety barflexes laterally as appears at 28A in Fig. 4 to accommodate cocking movement of the trigger. In tbis condition of the action the strong spring action of the i safety bar assists thesear spring infirmly seating the sear jaw 12in the sear notch ll'inthehammer and the piece is firmly locked in cocked, safe condition.

- It will be noted that any spring :acting to bias the safety bar forwardly in the trigger housing will cause the safety bar to function properly but the sear spring is a convenient spring already present in the assemblyand can easily be used to accomplish the purpose. Having thus described the invention what is claimed tobe new andwhat is desired to besecured by Letters pin movable into and outqof blocking relation to said trigger, a safety lock comprising a thin lock bar of laterally springable steel disposed in crossing side by siderelation to said trigger above the pivot of the trigger with its a rear end in opposed relation to the blocking shoulder of said blocking pin when said blocking pin is actuated to trigger blocking position, said bar being notched on its under side to clear the pivot of said trigger, a laterally turned abutment on the forward end of said bar engaged with a notch in the rear of said sear in blocking relation to hammer releasing movement of said scar, and a forwardly projecting retaining tip on the end of said abutment lapped alongside of said sear, the sear spring hearing against said abutment adjacent the point of contact of the spring with the sear and the sear spring lying alongside said barin laterally blocking relation thereto whereby the sear spring returns the blocking bar with the sear toward hammer locking position of the sear.

2. In combination with a firearm having a spring pressed hammer, a spring pressed sear releasably engageable with said hammer, a pivoted trigger, a connector coacting between said trigger and said sear to move said sear to hammer releasing position and a shouldered blockingpin movable into and out of blocking relation to said trigger, a safety lock comprising a thin lock 'bar of laterally springable steel disposed in crossing side by side relation to said trigger with its rear end in opposed relation to the blocking shoulder of said blocking pin when said blocking pin is actuated to trigger blocking position, a laterally turned abutment on the forward end of said bar engaged in blocking relation to hammer releasing movement of said sear, and a forwardly projecting retaining tip on the end of said abutment lapped alongside of said sear, the sear spring bearing against said abutment adjacent the point of contact of the spring with the sear and the sear spring lying alongside said bar in laterally blocking relation thereto whereby the sear spring returns the blocking bar with the sear toward hammer locking position of the sear.

3. In a firearm, a hammer, spring biased to firing posi tion, a sear releasably engageable with said hammer to hold the hammer in cocked position, a spring biasing said sear toward hammer engaging position, means including a.

pivoted trigger arranged to rnemberhaving a portion selectively movable laterally into blocking engagement with said means including the a a trigger to prevent operation thereof, a second safety 'con-' sisting of: a barpositioned: between said sear and said first safety member'and abutted therebetween whensaid first safety member is in blocking position relative to said means including the trigger, said bar being laterally bendable under the force of the cocking action of saidhammer on said scar, and means including a portion on said bar engaged by, said sear spring biasing said bar forwardly with'said sear so as not to interfere with movement of said first safety member. a I i 4. In a firearm, a hammer, spring biased to firing posiher having aportion selectively movable into blocking engagement with saidmeans including the trigger: to prevent operation thereof, a second safety consisting of a barpositioned between said scar and, said first safety member and abutted therebetween: when said first safety member is in blocking position relative to said means including the trigger, said bar being laterallybendable under the force of the cocking action: of said hammer on said sear, and means biasing said bar forwardly with said sear so as notto interfere with movement of said first safety member. I

, 5. in combination with a firearm having a spring pressed hammer, a sear releasably engageable with said hammer, a pivoted trigger, a, connector coasting between said trigger and said sear to move said sear to hammer releasing position and a shouldered blocking pin movable into and out of blocking relation to said triggena safety lock comprising a thin lock bar of laterally springable material disposed in side by side relation to said trigger above the pivot of the trigger with its: rear endv in opposed relation to the blocking shoulder of said blocking pin,

when said blocking pin is actuated to trigger blocking position, a laterally turned abutment on the forward end of said bar engaged with a notch in the rear of said sear in blocking relation to hammer releasing movement of said sear, a forwardly projecting retaining tip on the end of said abutment lapped alongside of said scar, and a spring bearing against said abutment lying alongside said bar in laterally blockingrelation thereto whereby the spring returns the blocking bar toward hammer locking position of the sear.

6; In combination with afirearm having a spring pressed hammer, a, scar releasably engageable with said hammer, a pivoted trigger, a connector coacting between said trigger and said soar to move said sear to hammer releasing position and a shouldered blocking pin movable into and out of blocking relation to said trigger, a safety lock comprising a thin lock bar of laterally springable material disposed in side by side relation to said trigger with its rear end in opposed relation to the blocking shoulder of said blocking pin when said blocking pin is actuated to trigger blocking position, a laterally turned, abutment on the forward end of said bar engaged with a notch in the rear of said sear in blocking relation to hammer releasing movement of said sear, a forwardly projecting retaining tip on the end of said abutment lapped alongside of said sear, and a spring bearing against said abutment whereby the spring returns theblocking bar toward hammer looking position of the sear.

7. In: combination with a firearm having a spring pressed hammer, a spring pressed sear releasably engageable with said hammer, a pivoted trigger, a connector coacting between said trigger and said sear to move said sear to hammer releasing position and a blocking member movable into and out of blocking relation to said trigger, a

move saidsear against said a spring to release the sear from the hammer, a first safety safety lock comprising a lock bar of laterally springable material disposed in crossing side by side relation to said trigger with its rear end in opposcdrelation to the block ing member when said blocking member is actuated .to trigger blocking position, an abutment on the forward end of said bar engaging said sear in blocking relation to hammer releasing movement of said scar, and a forwardly projecting retaining tip on the end of said abutment lapped alongside of said sear, the sear spring bearing against said abutment adjacent the point of contact of the spring with the sear and the sear spring lying alongside said bar in laterally blocking relation thereto whereby the sear spring returns the blocking bar with the sear toward hammer locking position of the sear.

8. In combination with a firearm having a spring pressed hammer, a spring pressed sear releasably engageable with said hammer, a pivoted trigger, a connector coacting between said trigger and said sear to move said sear to hammer releasing position and a blocking member movable into and out of blocking relation to said trigger, a safety lock comprising a lock bar of laterally springable material disposed with its rear end in opposed relation to the blocking member when said blocking member is actuated to trigger blocking position, the forward end of said bar engaging said sear in blocking relation to hammer releasing movement of said sear, the sear spring bearing against said bar adjacent the point of contact of the spring with the sear whereby the sear spring returns the blocking bar with the sear toward hammer locking position of the sear.

9. In a firearm, a hammer, spring biased to firing posi tion, a scar releasably engageable with said hammer to hold the hammer in cocked position, a spring biasing said sear toward hammer engaging position, means including a trigger arranged to move said sear against said spring to release the sear from the hammer, a first safety member having a portion selectively movable into blocking position relative to said means including a trigger, a second safety consisting of a bar positioned between said sear and said first safety member and abutted endwise therebetween when said first safety member is in blocking position, said bar being laterally bendable under the force of the cocking action of said hammer on said scar, and means biasing said bar forwardly with said sear so as not to interfere with movement of said first safety member.

10. In a firearm, a hammer, spring biased to firing position, a sear releasably engageable with said hammer to hold the hammer in cocked position, a spring biasing said sear toward hammer engaging position, means including a trigger arranged to move said sear against said spring to release the sear from the hammer, a first safety member having a portion selectively movable into blocking position relative to said means including a trigger, a second safety consisting of a bar positioned between said scar and said first safety member and abutted endwise therebetween when said first safety member is in blocking position, and means biasing said bar forwardly with said sear so as not to interfere with movement of said first safety member.

11. In a firearm, a hammer, spring biased to firing po sition, a scar releasably engageable with said hammer to hold the hammer in cocked position, a spring biasing said sear toward hammer engaging position, means including a trigger arranged to move said sear against said spring to release the sear from the hammer, a first safety member having a portion selectively movable into blocking position relative to said means including a trigger, a second safety consisting of a bar positioned between said sear and said first safety member and abutted endwise therebetween when said first safety member is in blocking position, said bar being laterally bendable under the force of the cocking action of said hammer on said sear.

12. A safety attachment for a firearm having a hammer, spring biased to firing position, a scar releasably engageable with said hammer to hold the hammer in cocked position, a spring biasing said sear toward hammer engaging position, means including a pivoted trigger arranged to move said sear against said spring to release the sear from the hammer, a first safety member having a portion selectively movable laterally into blocking engagement with said trigger means to prevent operation thereof, said safety attachment consisting of a bar adapted to be positioned between said sear and said first safety member and abutted endwise therebetween when said first safety member is in blocking position relative to said trigger, said bar being laterally bendable under the force of the cocking action of said hammer on said sear, and means including a portion on said bar adapted to be engaged by said sear spring to bias said bar forwardly with said sear so as not to interfere with movement of said first safety member.

13. A safety attachment for a firearm having a hammer, spring biased to firing position, a sear releasably engageable with said hammer to hold the hammer in cocked position, a spring biasing said sear toward hammer engaging position, means including a pivoted trigger arranged to move said sear against said spring to release the sear from the hammer, a first safety member having a portion selectively movable laterally into blocking engagement with said trigger means to prevent operation thereof, said safety attachment consisting of a bar adapted to be positioned between said scar and said first safety member and abutted endwise therebetween when said first safety member is in blocking position relative to said trigger, and means including a portion on said bar adapted to be engaged by said sear spring to bias said bar forwardly with said sear so as not to interfere with movement of said first safety member.

14. A safety attachment for a firearm having a spring pressed hammer, a spring pressed sear releasably engageable with said hammer, a pivoted trigger, a connector coacting between said trigger and said sear to move said sear to hammer releasing position and a shouldered blocking pin movable into and out of blocking relation to said trigger, said safety attachment comprising a thin lock bar of laterally springable steel adapted to be disposed in crossing side by side relation to said trigger above the pivot of the trigger with its rear end in opposed relation to the blocking shoulder of said blocking pin when said blocking pin is actuated to trigger blocking position, said bar being notched on its under side to clear the pivot of said trigger, a laterally turned abutment on the forward end of said bar adapted to be engaged with a notch in the rear of said sear in blocking relation to hammer releasing movement of said scar, and a forwardly projecting retaining tip on the end of said abutment adapted to be lapped alongside of said sear, said abutment being adapted to be engaged by the sear spring adjacent the point of contact of the spring with the sear and whereby the sear spring returns the blocking bar with the sear to ward hammer locking position of the sear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,239,920 Larson Sept. 11, 1917 1,855,403 Loomis Apr. 26, 1932 2,225,583 Blizard Dec. 17, 1940 

